Daisy accused them of conspiracy.
At sixteen, Ray finally agreed.
Helmet.
Jacket.
Boots.
Short ride.
Dry weather.
Quiet road.
Rebecca followed in the car.
Daisy climbed behind him.
Before he started the engine, Ray looked back.
“Scared?”
“No.”
“Liar.”
“A little.”
“Good.”
“Why good?”
“Fear reminds you to respect things.”
He started the motorcycle.
They rode ten miles.
No faster than fifty.
Daisy held his vest.
At one point they passed the gas station.
She tapped his shoulder.
Ray slowed.
They pulled in.
Same vending machine.
Same pumps.
Different paint.
Daisy removed her helmet.
She stared at the narrow space behind the machine.
“So small.”
Ray understood.
Places from childhood often were.
“I slept there?”
“One night.”
“I remember it bigger.”
“You were smaller.”
She looked at the pavement where Ray's motorcycle had fallen.
“Do you ever think about those men?”
“Sometimes.”
“What happened to them?”
“Court.”
“Probation for two.”
“Jail for one because he already had charges.”
“Did you hate them?”
Ray considered.
“No.”
“Really?”
“I was angry.”
“Different thing.”
Daisy studied him.
“What if they had hurt you worse?”
Ray shrugged.
“Then I'd be more angry.”
She smiled.
“You're annoying.”
“Yes.”
Then Daisy looked at the vending machine.
“I really thought you were Santa.”
“I know.”
“You know what I remember most?”
“What?”
“You told me not to give away Buttons.”
Ray nodded.
Daisy had Buttons at home now.
Almost no fur left on one arm.
More stitching.
Both ears repaired.
One eye forever missing.
“What about it?”
“I thought good people were supposed to give away everything.”
Ray looked at her.
“Who taught you that?”
“Nobody.”
“I just thought…”
She searched for words.
“If somebody needed something more than me, I was bad if I kept it.”
Ray remained quiet.
Daisy continued.
“You said I could help without giving away the last thing I loved.”
Ray smiled.
“Sounds intelligent.”
“You said it.”
“Oh.”
“Then probably accidental.”
She laughed.
Ray laughed too.
Daisy went to college.
Social work.
Nobody was surprised.
Ray pretended disappointment.
“I was hoping engineering.”
“You don't know anything about engineering.”
“I know metal.”
“That is not the same.”
“Close.”
She specialized in child welfare.
Emergency placement.
Runaway youth.
Trauma-informed care.